Rail fastening assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved fastener assembly is provided for mounting railroad trackage on a concrete bed or the like. The fastener assembly of the invention is constructed to include a base assembly which is anchored to the concrete bed. The base assembly is formed of top and bottom plates with an interposed resilient sheet member. The resilient sheet member serves to isolate vibrations between the rail and the track bed, and it also provides for electrical insulation, which is essential in the case of electrically operated railroads. Rail supporting clips are attached to the base for providing a positive attachment between the rails and the base. The assembly is adjustable, as will be described, so that the rail may be set precisely to the desired gauge.

United States Patent 1 Hixson RAIL FASTENING ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: James D. ll-lixson, Pleasant Hill,

[ ,lan.7, 1975 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney, Agent, or FirmThomias D. Linton, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An improved fastener assembly is provided for mounting railroad trackage on a concrete bed or the like. The fastener assembly of the invention is constructed to include a base assembly which is anchored to the concrete bed. The base assembly is formed of top and bottom plates with an interposed resilient sheet member. The resilient sheet member serves to isolate vibrations between the rail and the track bed, and it also provides for electrical insulation, which is essential in the case of electrically operated railroads. Rail supporting clips are attached to the base for providing a positive attachment between the rails and the base. The assembly is adjustable, as will be described, so that the rail may be set precisely to the desired gauge.

6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJA" SHEET 10F 5 PAIENTEU 7 I975 SHEET 2 OF 5 2 m. o 8 m PATENTED 7575 I Q 3.858.804

SHEET um 5 RAIL FASTENING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In laying railroad tracks on a concrete surface to carry, for example, electrically operated trains in a metro system, it is essential for appropriate fasteners to be provided which will enable the rails to be quickly and easily laid on the track bed and to be quickly and easily adjusted to the required guage. It is also necessary that such fasteners provide the required vibration isolation and electrical insulation between the rails and the concrete bed.

The improved fastener assembly of the present invention answers all the foregoing criteria, and it provides positive attachment for the rails to the track bed. Moreover, the improved fastener assembly of the invention exceeds without failure the specification requirements of all the usual tests, such as push-pull, tie wear, static, dynamic, horizontal load, lateral load, slide, deflection, and other similar tests.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded representation of a fastener assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of the assembly of FIG. 1 taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded representation of a second embodiment of the fastener assembly of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a further perspective exploded representation of the embodiment of FIGS. 36;

FIG. 8 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 taken substantially along the line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is a perspective representation of another embodiment of the invention, which is slightly different from the embodiment of FIGS. 3-8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective representation of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a section of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a rail 10 is supported on a base assembly 14 which, in turn, is supported on a grout pad 16, by means of anchor bolts 18. The anchor bolts 18 are embedded in the grout pad 16 which, in turn, is embedded in the concrete track bed.

The base assembly 14 is made up of a bottom plate 20 and a top plate 22 each of which, for example, may be composed of steel, or other appropriate material. A resilient sheet 24 composed of rubber, or any other appropriate elastomeric material, is interposed between the bottom plate 20 and top plate 22 of the base assembly, as shown. As also shown, portions 24a of the resilient sheet extend up over the top surface of the top plate 22, the studs 30 extend through the bottom plate and through these portions. Also, hold down Z clips may be used to extend over the top of plate 22 for positive hold down action. Appropriate washers 32 are supported on the studs 30, and the base assembly is held in an assembled condition by self locking nuts 34 which are threaded to the studs over the washers 32.

The anchor bolts 18 extend through holes in the bottom plate 20, and the fastener assemblyis held on the grout pad 16 by these anchor bolts, and by means of nuts 40 which are threaded to the anchor bolts over spring type lock washers 42.

The rail 10 is supported on the base 14 by a pair of rail clips 50. Each rail clip has a. slot, as shown, and bolts 52 extend through the slots to be threaded into threaded holes in the top plate 22, so as to hold the rail 10 in place on the base. Appropriate positive type lock washers 54 are interposed between the bolt 52 and corresponding washer 56, which are also mounted by the bolts 52 over the corresponding clips 50. A serrated member 58 is mounted on each of the washers 56, and this member has a serrated edge which is held in coupled relationship with a mating serrated edge on the corresponding clip 50.

It will be appreciated that the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be mounted on the anchor bolts 18 by tightening the nuts 40 over the spring washers 42. The clips 50 may be placed over the threaded holes in the top plate 22, and the rail 10 adjusted to the desired guage. Then the lock washers 54 may be placed over the respective washers 56, and the bolts 52 threaded through the sub-assembly so that the clips may be positively and securely fastened to the base, with the rail 10 in the desired position.

It should be observed that the fastener assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides a positive attachment for the rail to the concrete bed, and represents an assembly which may be quickly attached to the bed, and which may quickly and positively mount the rail at the desired guage. The fastener itself provides for vibration insulation between the rail and the bed, as well as electrical insulation.

In the assembly of FIGS. 3-8, the base assembly is made up of top plate 102, a bottom plate 104, and an interposed resilient sheet member 106. The base assembly is held in an assembled condition by studs which extend through the top and bottom members, and through the resilient member 106. The studs are secured by means of corresponding nuts 112 and washers 114. As best shown in FIG. 5, the resilient member 106 extends through holes in the top plate 102 to provide bushings for the stud 110.

The rail clips in the second embodiment of the invention are secured to the top plate 102 by appropriate bolts 132. In the second embodiment, two diagonal edges of the top plate 102, and intermediate resilient sheet 106 are cut away to reveal the corners of the bottom plate 104. The revealed portions of the bottom plate are serrated, as shown best in FIG. 7, as are the edges of the bottom plate adjacent the portions, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The anchor bolts 18 extend through slots in the serrated portions of the bottom plate 104, as shown in FIG. 7, and. the fastener assembly is held on the anchor bolt by means of serrated L- shaped washers, such as the washer 136 in FIG. 7. The washer is held in place by a suitable sleeve nut 140 which is threaded onto the ends of the anchor bolts.

Unlike the previous embodiment, lateral adjustment of the rail is provided in the second embodiment by shifting the entire fastener assembly for a particular positioning of the assembly on the anchor bolts 18. Then, the washers 136 are placed in serrated coupled relationship with the top and edges of the bottom plate 104, and the assembly is mounted in place of the anchor bolts by the nuts 130, 140.

The embodiment of FIGS. 9-11 is generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3-8, and like the elements have been designated by the same numbers. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11, the serrated sections 200 of the base are supported on the top plate 102, instead of being formed on the bottom plate. As before, the serrated washers 136 are fastened to the anchor bolts 18 by the sleeve nuts 140, and the entire base assembly is shifted transversely in order to position the rail 10 to the desired guage, before the nuts 140 are tightened down on the washers 136.

Again, in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-14, elements which are similar to the elements of the preceeding embodiments are designated by the same numbers. In the latter embodiment, the anchor bolts 18a, instead of being directly embedded in the concrete bed, are mounted in housings 210, and each housing is embedded in the concrete bed designated 222 in FIGS. 13 and 14. The housing 210 defines a serrated slot which re ceives a serrated head 18b of the anchor bolts 18a.

The entire base assembly may now be adjusted transversely to set the rail to the desired guage, by dropping the head 18b down in the housing, and moving the rail to the desired position. Then, the anchor bolts 18 are drawn upwardly, so that the head moves into the serrated slots, and the assembly is tightened in place by means, for example, of the nuts in conjunction with the spring washers 42.

It will be understood, therefore, that the invention provides an improved fastener assembly for quickly and conveniently mounting railroad tracks on a concrete bed. As described, the assembly of the invention provides a desired positive and rigid fastening of the rails to the bed, and yet provides for transverse adjustment of the rails to the desired guage. The fastener assembly of the invention also provides desired vibration and electrical insulation between the rail and the bed.

While particular embodiment of the invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base, said rail clip having at least one serrated side edge; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, said serrated memher of said securing means extending into coupled relationship with the serrated edge of said clip and over the top of said clip for securing said rail clip to said base assembly.

2. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient elecrically insulated member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base, said rail clip having a serrated edge; fastener means including at least one stud extend ing through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; a bolt member threaded through said clip and into said base assembly to support the clip on said base, and a washer member mounted on said bolt and having a serrated member affixed thereto and extending into coupled relationship with the serrated edge of said clip.

3. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having a transverse slot therein and having a serrated configuration over a portion of the top surface thereof adjacent said slot, said top plate having an opening therein overlying said portion of said lower plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member to permit lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, said securing means further including an anchor bolt extending through said slot in said bottom plate and means mounting said serrated member on said bolt and overlying said serrated portion of said bottom plate in serrated, coupled relationship therewith.

4. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, portions of said resilient member extending up and over portions of said top plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means including at least one stud attached to said bottom plate and extending through said portions of said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member to permit lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed.

5. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, said base assembly having a transverse slot therein, said top plate having a serrated configuration on a portion of the top surface thereof adjacent said slot; at least one rail clip attached to said base; a bolt member for attaching said rail clip to said base; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means for securing said base assembly to said supporting bed, said securing means including a bolt member extending through the slot in said base assembly, and a washer member mounted on said bolt, said washer member having a serrated surface thereon for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, the serrated surface of said washer member extending into coupled relationship with the serrated portion of said top plate.

6. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means for securing said base assembly to said. supporting bed, said securing means including a housing embedded in said bed, said housing having a serrated slot therein, and an anchor bolt extending through said housing and secured to said base assembly, said anchor bolt having a serrated portion on at least one surface thereof for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, the serrated portion of said anchor bolt extending into coupled relationship with the serrated slot in said housing embedded in said supporting bed. 

1. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base, said rail clip having at least one serrated side edge; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, said serrated member of said securing means extending into coupled relationship with the serrated edge of said clip and over the top of said clip for securing said rail clip to said base assembly.
 2. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient elecrically insulated member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base, said rail clip having a serrated edge; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; a bolt member threaded through said clip and into said base assembly to support the clip on said base, and a washer member mounted on said bolt and having a serrated member affixed thereto and extending into coupled relationship with the serrated edge of said clip.
 3. A fastenEr assembly for mounted a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having a transverse slot therein and having a serrated configuration over a portion of the top surface thereof adjacent said slot, said top plate having an opening therein overlying said portion of said lower plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member to permit lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, said securing means further including an anchor bolt extending through said slot in said bottom plate and means mounting said serrated member on said bolt and overlying said serrated portion of said bottom plate in serrated, coupled relationship therewith.
 4. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assmebly including: a base assmebly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, portions of said resilient member extending up and over portions of said top plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means including at least one stud attached to said bottom plate and extending through said portions of said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means mounted on said base including at least one serrated member to permit lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed.
 5. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate, said base assembly having a transverse slot therein, said top plate having a serrated configuration on a portion of the top surface thereof adjacent said slot; at least one rail clip attached to said base; a bolt member for attaching said rail clip to said base; fastener means including at least one stud extending through said top and bottom plates and through said resilient member for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means for securing said base assembly to said supporting bed, said securing means including a bolt member extending through the slot in said base assembly, and a washer member mounted on said bolt, said washer member having a serrated surface thereon for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, the serrated surface of said washer member extending into coupled relationship with the serrated portion of said top plate.
 6. A fastener assembly for mounting a rail on a supporting bed, said assembly including: a base assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and a resilient electrically insulating member interposed between said top plate and said bottom plate; at least one rail clip supported on said base; fastener means for holding said base in an assembled condition; and securing means for securing said base assembly to said supporting bed, said securing means including a housing embedded in said bed, said housing having a serrated slot therein, and an anchor bolt extending through said housing and secured to said base assembly, said anchor bolt having a serrated portion on at least one surface thereof for permitting lateral adjustment of the rail with respect to said supporting bed, the serrated portion of said anchor bolt extending into coupled relationship with the serrated slot in said housing embedded in said supporting bed. 